Philippine Young Workers Care for our Common Home

The Philippine Young Christian Workers-Camarines Norte successfully held their first ever Leadership and Membership Camp (LAMP2023) last May 13-14, 2023 in Masalongsalong, Mercedes, Camarines Norte. It was attended by 37 young people from different YCW base groups of the said region.

The two-day event included various activities such as camping, discussion with an expert from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), mangrove planting, social and solidarity night.

The DENR representative discussed the importance of and way of protecting our natural resources like the mountains, rivers and oceans, including the flora and fauna living on it and underneath. He emphasized that if we take care of Mother Earth, it will reciprocally take care of us.

Expressing their love to and communion with nature, the YCW planted 150 mangrove trees alongside the river. The province is widely known for floods and erosions during rainy season. In this regard, the mangrove trees are an effective natural barrier and protection.

The event was inspired by Laudato Si, an encyclical letter by Pope Francis that encourages us to take care of the natural environment and all its people. A social evening was organized to reflect positive memories and experiences with nature and to link them with young people’s spirituality.

The highlight of the event was the mountain climbing and hiking at Mount Hinipaan and Hinipaan Falls. YCW members marched in the early morning into the mountain to appreciate the gift of Mother Nature. It was a two-and-a-half-hour hike.

Participants were quite happy with the outcome of the activity and decided to hold a similar event next month and involve more young workers. The event was planned in line with the celebration of the International Week of Young Workers last April 26-May 1, 2023, but it had to be rescheduled due to bad weather conditions.

The Philippine Young Christian Workers would like to express their gratitude to CAJ-Germany for its financial support and for donating 10 camping tents for the event.

SALAMAT AT DIOS MABALOS!